IT was a beautiful day in early February, deep in Kenya on the African continent. The dry, endless wilderness went on for as far as the eye could see as George Adamson, game warden in the Northern District of Kenya, made his way through the deep bush. This gentle man loved his job as a game warden deep in the Kenyan wilds. He spent his days patrolling the bush , massive swaths of wild, uncultivated land, protecting wildlife and animals from illegal hunting and poaching (stealing wild animals illegally), and fulfilling his duties as a conservation officer. George loved nature and animals and was deeply familiar with the vast territory in the remote African wilderness for which he was responsible.
But on this beautiful, sunny morning, George was in for a surprise.
George found three tiny lion cubs in a small, rocky crevice not far away. Experienced and knowledgeable, George could see that the cubs were just a few days old. Their eyes were still shut; lion cubs don’t open their eyes for the first time until they’re about a week old. George knelt down again, and with slow, careful movements, scooped the three warm little cubs into his arms. They nuzzled their noses into him and whimpered again, and George cradled them close. Bereft of their mother, the little lions would be unable to survive. Lion cubs are completely dependent on their mothers; they can only begin hunting on their own when they are about one year old. George resolutely headed for his Land Rover, and using an old blanket, fashioned a small nest in the back seat. He tucked the little lions in and drove off.
Wearing his army-green uniform, George brushed some dry, tall grass out of his way and was startled to hear a low growl. George looked toward the miles of deep brush, camouflaging everything and anything inside it, and his hand quietly traveled to his rifle. As profoundly as he respected the animals of this breathtaking land, he also wanted to return home alive and well to his wife, Joy. When the massive female lion burst out of the brush, furiously lunging at George, he didn’t hesitate. Three shots rang out and the lion fell back. George stood in place, motionless. He knelt down by the lion’s body, knowing he’d saved his own life, but deeply pained by the loss of the magnificent beast before him. Then George heard whimpering from the brush and he froze in understanding.
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